The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-08-19
THE CLOAK OF TRUTH.
a Ronanee for Young and Oh.

JulS eafJl, a little girl whose name was
Yuddi. Her parents were poor and had TO
work hard and continuously to gain even
the small amount on which Oriental labor
ers are able to support life. Poor little
Yuddi's childhood was not very fall of
pleasure. For her were none of the toys
and games hat modern skill and ingenuity
ave fashioned to make the season ofyouth
enjoyable.
In the cold season Yuddi was OCCASION
ally sent to a school presided over by a
wise old Brahmin, Rhasta, who for a few
'tpice," as the smallest native coin is call
ed, taught his pupils as much as their
brains could absorb in the limited time
they gave to study.
Many people think that India is a land
where great heat prevails the year round.
This is true only of certain of tbs southern
parts; but in the north, where there are
some of the highest mountains in the
world, and where farming is carried on
in the valleys between lofty hills or upon
very elevated plateaus, the cold in winter,
and during the long 'rainy'' season" is
often intense. Poor Yuddi frequently
suffered much from the bitter weather,
her clothing being thin and scanty, while
the walls of the hut and the loosely-fitting
doorway admitted a great deal of frosty
air.
Tit dearest wish of her heart was for a
10 rra ,t-o y, olOaIr il, whioh cha aoY,lA
brave the cold when she was allowed to
go to school, and wrap herself at night.
Often and often she prayed that such a
good gift might be sent to her, but for a
long time in vain. She had heard a great
deal about Fairies who watched over good
children, yet the one who ought to have
attended on her had never made herself
known. With the sweet, trusting faith of
childhood, Yuddi did not give way to de-
spair, but only strove to be q better girl,
believing that finer guardian had not come,
it was because she had not deserved the
boon.
Late one night, after Yuddi had been
asleep for several hours, she was startled
from her slumber by a voice calling in the
sweetest tones she had ever heard:
Awake, Yuddi, and sec what l have
brought theel" The child sat up Oh her
bed of dried rice leaves, rubbed her as
tonished eyes, which at length showed to
her the most beautiful being she had ever
seen. Yuddi knew at once that it was a
Fairy. 1t was MOI however such a creature
as our Western writer's have told us of, or
that we see in pictures or upon the stage
in ~pantomimes and spectacular plays. 1t
was not dressed in white gauze, nor did it
have butterfly wings and a magic wand.
No! this was an Indian Fairy, with a dark
olive tinted skin, and with bare arms and
feet. Round the body was wound in nu-
merous folds a scarf Of some many-colored
material, in which shone threads of gold.
Tie folds fell almost to her knees, below
which appeared loose trousers of a semi
transparent silver gauze. Round her
wrists and ankles were massive rings stud
ded with gems.
A single diamond, brilliant as the "Koh-
moor itself-Queen Victoria ichest jew
el-glittered on her forehead, sustained by
a narrow fillet of gold. From this seemed
to flow a soft light, which suffused the hut.
Once, when at the Bazaar, Yuddi had seen
a Nautch dancer, who bore a faint resem-
blance to the Fairy. The dancer had been,
till now, her ideal of beauty, but she saw at
once how surprisingly lovely was the pres
ent visitor. Yuddi was not at all frightened,
but she glanced round with some anxiety
to see if her parents were awake. They
were sleeping soundly, and Yuddi could
not help feeling glad that she had this
lovely vision all to herself.
81 am awake" she said; what can
Yuddi, the little daughter of Ri Lings, do
to serve you ?"
sNothing, child, answered the Fairy.
II am come to serve you. You have long
ed for a cloak: see, / have brought you
one,' " and she held up before the girls de-
lighted gaze the most exquisite garment
she had ever beheld. 1t was of the purest
white lambs wool, and round the collar
and edges were embroidered in letters of
gold some of the wisest sayings of Brahma.
s'Is that really for me, my very own ?"
cried Yuddi.
Eyes, my child, if you can keep tue con-
ditions of the gift. This is the Cloak of
Truth, and no one must wear it who does
not speak perfect truth. If the wearer de-
ceives or equivoca.es, be it never SO little,
the word 'Falsiier' will appear on it in let
tiers of flaming scarlet. VIII you take and
wear it,"
Now Yuddi had always been Il very
good little girl. Her mother had taught
her how wicked it was to lie, and the
teaching had gone home. 1t was not, how
ever, without some little tremor that Yuddi
answered:
81 will take it. and try to be worthy to
wear it, oh my good Fairy"
''That is well. l hope you will keep it
long. But there are other conditions to the
gift. If the fatal word appears on it, you
must instantly take it off. Then the scar
let letters will fade away, and you must
find some one to take it from you. That
person you must watch. If he or she wears
it in truth and purity all is well; if not,
you must seek till you can discover a prop